just in time...

I thought I had been rather organised this year in the lead up to Christmas.  I have decided to give many handmade gifts and use the flexibility of online shopping for those that I want to buy for.   I managed to snap up a Melbourne Zoo for a family pass for friends,   two magazine subscriptions from MagShop (it's the gift that gives all year!!).  I also thought this coffee machine would make a great gift and it was delivered the next day.  My good friend Blurb speedily made and sent me gorgeous personalised diaries with pictures of the kids throughout the year.  It's a good feeling knowing I could avoid the shopping centres this year.

But the one item that I thought I had oodles of time for was the advent calendar.  I realised I had about 48 hours till countdown began!  I did find myself with some time, however it was so hot there was no venturing out to any craft store near or far.  So we used what we had at home searching for inspiration high and low.  My darling daughter loves to paint and draw and the collection when I pick her up from Kinder over the course of the year has resulted in a large draw full just of her artwork.

So with a few careful selections, a cut, snip, glue, print, staple and improvisation we made our own advent calendar.  I bit of jute twine strung up with some picture frame hooks and some quick tassels made with crepe paper and it has a whimsy Christmassy vibe.    A secret activity hidden behind each one, and I am feeling ready for the festivities.

Now is Santa is listening or reading...I did on my travels spot this gorgeous set of Orla Kiely tins from Lark! I do hope I've been good!

Have got your advent calendar ready?

making..

After much fun the other weekend making some Sculpey clay beads, I thought it would be a great idea to have another go, learn from our mistakes and thread some delights as gifts for the teachers this year.  One already has been gifted.  It's my sons teachers birthday today and he selected the colours and we gift wrapped it up.  I like that the beads are still a bit rustic and as a dear friend pointed out, it's nice they don't look like they've just been produced by a factory.

If you want to give this project a go, which is totes easy with the small people in your world, then just grab some Scupley or Fimo clay, cut, roll in your palm or shape to your desired design.  Use a skewer to make a hole in the centre large enough for your choice of thread, then bake in the oven as per the packet instructions.  When they are cool, get creating with making whatever combination you like!   So simple!

Are you crafting up gifts for teachers and special others?
What are you making?

Joining in with these delightful creative folk. 

xx

the book {what type are you?}

I love reading.  It's a lovely relaxing hobby of mine when I'm not stitching, sewing or baking.

Earlier this year I was a bit perplexed about my Reading List and how long it was getting.  I wouldn't be half way through a book without having had added five more to the list.  It was growing at incredible speed that really something had to be done.

I embarked on a Challenge.  Yep, that was all good and most days I was managing, somedays not and sometimes finding myself perched on the couch at 2am after a solid reading session.

Todays version of a book is oh so vast and different.  Where once you could only hold the paper or hardback variety, now the options are endless and millions of books are within reach without even heading out your door (or into a bookshop! Gasp!).  I must admit that the ibooks do have their benefits and learnt this last year whilst overseas.  I allowed myself one book...thinking surely I wont have time to read, but a few glorious sessions at the beach whilst the kids played contently it was finished.  Finding an book in English in a European country was like trying to find a jar of Vegemite at the local deli, so I promptly downloaded and book on my iPad and I was a happy traveller once again.

Over the last few months though I've adapted my reading style.  There is just not enough time in the day to read as much as I would like, but I can listen.  Yes, yes, the audio book. I've dowloaded a simple little App on my iPhone that allows me to listen to (at my leisure) a book.  The idea first came to me whilst driving home from night shift....the radio was just not cutting it.....  And so it started.

I still read real books don't worry...

But the beauty of an audio book is that you can read listen whilst folding the washing, cooking dinner, mopping the floor, exercising, driving and even sewing (yes it definitely beats the sound of the Janome going full pelt!).  I'm knocking off some classics via audio books, so The Great Gatsby, Northanger Abbey, Jane Eyre and Tess of the D'urbervilles have all been crossed of the list.  Is that cheating I wonder or multi-tasking?   I've even noticed my library* now stock a huge range of new relase audio books...perhaps I'm onto something! 

Tell me do you listen to a book? 
What do you prefer? The olde worlde kind, the new age kindle or iPad variety?

*you borrow the the audio transmitter and attach your own headphones and battery.  I checked for fear that it came with its own set of headphones (ewwww!) 

iPad fabric envelope tutorial

I've wanted a groovy little case for my iPad for like ever and the other day I finally set out to make one. Taken from oodles of inspiration from Pinterest I decided on an envelope style so that, when it's not in use for my iPad, it could be a great document or notes carrier! 

Below I show you what you'll need to whip up one of your own. 

Take some fabric of your choice.  For this project you'll need two types, one for the outer and the other for the lining.  Cut a square of each 36cm x 36 cm.

So then you'll have something that looks like this.  (mind you could iron your fabric before photographing it if you choose!) 

Lay them right sides facing and sew around the edge leaving a 6mm seam allowance and a small gap in one side to turn the right way out. 

Once you've done that, clip the corners and turn the right way out and give a little press with your iron. 

Position your iPad in the centre on a 45 degree angle so as to then work out your envelope seams. 

 An easy way to do this I found was to turn your piece with your outer fabric ontop.  Place the iPad in the centre and join the three triangle peices together with pins.  This will ensure the right fit.  Remember do allow a little give as you don't want to be queezing your iPad into a pair of skin tight jeans!

take the iPad out and carefully stitch these two seams together

Turn the right way out and this is what it should look like. Now for securing the top flap to the rest. Initially I was going to use a press stud, but thought that might not be ideal having something you have to push down hard on when a iPad could be inside.   

So I opted for some hat elastic at the tip of the flap and a decorative button at the bottom of the envelope.  Given the elastic was not sewn in, I covered up the exposed tails with a bit of felt attached with visoflex.  The little metal plate hides the stitching on the top and the button was hand sewn on. 

Now your iPad will be fancy dressed whenever out and about!  Or make some up as Christmas gifts..would be ideal for that difficult uncle or brother that seems to lurk on the bottom of the shopping list! 

I've added a tutorial button to the top of my blog.  I'm hoping that will give me the inspiration to fill that page full of wonderful how-to's! 

happy days

xx

spring clean

I've done some much needed spring cleaning on my blog.  Can you tell?  It was prompted by a much needed lifeline offer from a dear friend to help with making a new blog header (something that frightens the techno-phobic nerves in my body)....

So whilst I was thinking what type of new blog header to create, I started cleaning the shelves, tidying up a bit, putting things in different spots and really asking if all these accessories were relevant and required.

Then, I had a bash and doing a new blog header and bam...it worked!  wow...it's only taken about two and half years of blogging to finally work out all the technical bits (read: fluke!)

What do you think?  Do you like the new look MiraNarnie?  And what do you think makes for a really pleasant blog format??

this week

Some weeks I don't feel like I achieve much beyond the bear minimum...with drop off, pick ups, week day dinners, after school activities, meetings and work.  It's also the added madness that comes with the end of the year, so I'm not surprised I feel like I'm chasing my tail.

But as I look back at some of the photos I snapped this week, I'm reminded that the simple things are the extras that make the week a little special...

~ crafting preparation for a project next week
~ some clay necklaces made by the kids and finished off with some leather now all hanging together
~ a soda bread and polenta
~ a sneak peek at an impromptu project that hopefully I will make into a tutorial (no sonia, it's not the tablecloth!)
~ admiring the gorgeous growth in our purple carrots
~ getting super excited about my first lemons
~ and what would be a week in our life, if time was not spent swinging through the breeze

...what did you get up to this week?
Do you need to remind yourself that you did achieve loveliness and goodness?

Joining in over at the Beetle Shack! 

The Pillowcase {a tutorial}

Pillowcases are something we all have.  Some have heaps, some have a few, and somepeople scour op-shops to turn pillowcases into glorious little dresses for equally glorious little girls. 

Until the day I revamped my bed linen, I'd never made a pillowcase.  And never knew how easy it was.  Well actually I'm pretty sure I knew it would be easy, but I just can't quite comprehend why it took me so long to get making them. 

And now I'll show you.  It's super easy and if you have a sewing machine, and can sew straight lines then this tutorial is a winner for you.  If you are an advanced sewer then just be reminded that the simpliest of things can also make your day happy....sometimes we all need a quick ten minute project!

Here is what you need:

Fabric of your choice preferably 160cm wide or in length as then you can just cut one piece.
Thread
a few pins
Scissors
Iron and board all set up ready to go

• Cut your fabric 160cm by 48cm (this will allow for about 2 cm seam allowances on the short end and 6mm seam allowance on the length).  

• Iron each short end 5mm and then again to create neat seam.  Stitch using a straight stitch across these two ironed edges.

• Now, fold your fabric right sides facing to 70 cm which will make 15 cm of fabric over hanging from the length underneath.  Fold this flap back down over so that the fold line meets the short end and secure with a few pins.  It will seem like you are closing up your pillow,but you are making the envelope casing.

• All you have to do is serge, zig zag or single stitch (if you don't mind a raw edge!) down both sides, sewing through all layers.

The envelope opening that you created folding down the excess fabric will allow you to turn your pillowcase the right side out.

Fill with a pillowcase, stand back and admire your work!   Now, go make more in all the colours and patterns your hearts desire! Makes a great gift too!

Simple hey!

Joining in with these creative folk

a skirt and the neighbours

I made a skirt last night. Long time coming, it feels like I haven't made myself a piece of clothing in ages.  Not really what I had hoped for this year.  I really wanted to make more...but as usual life, and other such stuff gets in the way.  But this maxi skirt....pattern totally made up as I went was rather a quick project that probably only took 30 minutes. I love the tribal print...I knew straight away it would make a great maxi skirt....I shall be planning more and if it works a second time (let me first rule out a fluke...then I could consider a tutorial).

As I set up the tripod to snap a few shots of said made skirt, I did take a moment to consider my location.  Usually I just plop myself near the side fence of our backyard but today I was a little self-consious.  You see I have new neighbours.  Yes, I could just imagine the conversation over dinner at their house....."hmmm you know our  neighbour takes pictures of herself" "Oh really?"  "yes, I think it's a sign of madness" "your probably right, perhaps we should avoid her at all cost" So I snuck down the other side of my house...the icky side with the hot water system, the old door and mirror and the air conditioning unit.  But at least my neighbours didn't see! 

wearing:

Top: by Kookai

Skirt: made by me

Shoes: Birkenstocks

Made anything for yourself lately? 

What are your neighbours like? 

xx